To achieve drying of a laundry by a heat pump and thoroughly restrict the inflow of liquid refrigerant and oil into a compressor to achieve a desired reduction in size and weight even if an accumulator is downsized.
The flow of refrigerant into an evaporator from a condenser is blocked at the time the operation of the heat pump is started by activating the compressor while a wringer is closed (S3-S6) when the operation of the heat pump is started. Also the refrigerant and oil remaining in the evaporator is sucked (resumed) into the compressor 18 by activating the compressor and the pressure of the evaporator is decreased. By this, the inflow of refrigerant and oil into the accumulator from the evaporator thereafter can be reduced and the inflow of liquid refrigerant, and oil into the compressor can thoroughly be restricted even the accumulator is downsized to achieve a desired reduction in size and weight.
NISHIWAKI SATOSHI
SAKUMA TSUTOMU
TOSHIBA CONSUMER ELECT HOLDING
TOSHIBA HOME APPLIANCES CORP
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